Building-block.



No 797,205. PATENTBD AUG" 15, 1905..

O. D. W, INMAN,

- BUILDING BLOCK.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIII 1) APR. 11, 1905.

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1905.

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$pecifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented na 15, 1905.

Application filed April 11.1905. Serial No. 254,935.

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Be it known thatll, ORION D. W. INMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beloit, in the county of Rock and State of VViscousin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Building-Blocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invent-ion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to bu ilding-blocksand more particularly to blocks constructed of artificial stone.

The object of the invention is to provide blocks of novel construction which can be assembled to produce a wall having parallel passages extending therethrou 'h, said passages communicating through smaller passages extending at right angles thereto.

Another object is to provide blocks which can be so disposed in relation to each other as to produce walls of different thicknesses and with a number of passages therein which increase or diminish according to the walls thickness. I

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a block substantially L-shaped in cross-section and having recesses in the ends thereof, so that when two blocks are placed. end to end their recesses will register and form a passage opening into the channel or groove formed by the L-shaped block.

The invention also consists of a channeled filling-block having its side walls of equal height and which is adapted to be utilized in connection with the other blocks for constructing walls of desired thicknesses.

A still further object is to provide cornerblocks corresponding in cross-section to the blocks above described, whereloy a wall can be produced with continuous passages extending through the corners thereof.

The invention also consists of the further novel constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described, and pointed. out in the claims.

it n the accompanying drawings l. have shown the preferred form of my invention.

in said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a wall constructed of my improved blocks, said wall being provided with two parallel series of passages. Fig. 2

Fig. 3 is a transverse sec- Flg. d is a per spective view showing a portion of a wall formed of my improved blocks, said wall having four parallel series of passages. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing another form of wall having three parallel series of passages, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a filling-block.

Referring to the figures by numerals of refonce, 1 is a block of any preferred proportions and which is provided with parallel flanges 2 and 3 along opposite edges thereof, which are of different heights to form a block which is substantially IL-shaped in cross-section. A channel 4: is therefore formed longitudinally between the flanges 2 and 3, and the block is provided with a semicircular recess 5 in each end thereof, which opens into this channel. It will therefore be seen that when two blocks of this construction are placed in corresponding positions and end to end their channels t register to produce a continuous passage and their recesses 5 will also register to form a circular passage which opens into the passage 4: and extends at right angles therefrom. The blocks 1 may be straight or can be angular, as shown at 6, for use in producing corners of a structure. l/Vhere a block is of this form, the channel l is also angular, so that a continuous passage can be formed within each alining series of blocks located within a wall.

In order to properly construct a wall of blocks of the particular construction shown, it is often necessary to utilize filling-blocks T, such as shown particularly in Fig. 6. These filling-blocks have side flanges 8 of equal heights and the entire height of the block is equal to the difference in length between flanges 2 and 3 of blocks 1. The flanges 8 of block 7 form a channel 9 therebetween, and this block also has semicircular recesses 10 in its ends, which open into said channel.

When it is desired to construct a wall having two parallel series of passagestherein. a lilling-block is placed in position, preferably with its flanges extending downward, and this block is utilized to support the short flange 3. of a block 1. Another block 1 is then placed with its flange 2 on block 7 and with its short flange 3 overlapping and resting upon the inner portion of the said block 1. This arrangement of blocks is duplicated until a do sired height is reached, it being understood, of course, that the blocks are so laid as to overlap as ordinarily. Where corners are to be produced angular blocks 6 are utilized. By referring to Figs. 1 and 2, where this construction is shown, it will be noticed that continuous passages are formed in each layer of blocks and that each of these passages communicates with the passage directly thereabove through the circular intercepting passages which are produced by the registering recesses 5. lVhile I have shown this particular arrangement of blocks for producing a thin wall of two parallel series of passages, it will of course be understood that other arrangements may be utilized for producing the same result.

If a very thick wall is to be formed by means of these blocks, the same can be produced by properly placing a filling-block '7 with its flanges extending downward, and then supporting the short flange 3 of a block 1 upon one side of said filling-block. Another block 1 is placed parallel to the blocl; '7, but is spaced therefrom with its flanges extending upward, and the short flange 3 of this lastmentioned block 1, together with the adjoining filling-block 7, serve to support another filling-block the flanges of which extend downward. A third block Tis then placed over the space formed above the first-mentioned filling-block, and the operation above described can then be repeated until a wall of proper height has been produced. It will therefore be seen that four parallel series of passages are formed. To produce a wall of medium thickness to wit, one having three series of parallel passagesa filling-block 7 is first laid with its flanges projecting downward and blocks 1 are arranged in opposite positions at opposite sides thereof and with their short flanges 3 resting on opposite portions of the block '7. Another filling-block 7 is then placed over the space formed between the two blocks 1, and the operation can then be repeated indefinitely. It will of course be understood that walls of still greater thicknesses than those herein described can be constructed by means of these blocks by properly arranging them in relation to each other.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

l. A building-block having parallel flanges of different heights arranged longitudinally along the opposite edges thereof, and forming a channel therebetween, and recesses in the ends of the blocks and opening into the ends of the channel.

2. A wall consisting of a multiplicity of superposed blocks each having flanges of different height-s, the short flanges overlapping and supported by the adjoining blocks whereby parallel passages are formed between the flanges of the respective blocks, the blocks having recesses in their ends adapted to register and forming intersecting passages at right angles to the first-mentioned passages.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification .in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ORION D. W. INMAN.

Vitnesses:

CLARENCE E. W. INMAN, CHAS. CLEOPHAS. 

